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Newswise — Denver, Colorado -- The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Foundation (ACVIMF), in partnership with the Veterinary Pharmacology Research Foundation (VPRF), announced today a new call for proposals for animal health studies with a pharmacologic focus.

1. The strategic partnership between VPRF and ACVIMF began in 2009 in an effort to solicit, review, and administer research grants with a pharmacologic focus. “The Veterinary Pharmacology Research Foundation (VPRF) was formed by the governing bodies of American Academy of Veterinary Pharmacology (AAVPT) and the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology (ACVCP) in June of 2006. These organizations recognized that the lack of funding for basic pharmacology research was limiting both growth and innovation in the development of new veterinary therapeutics and the number of trained researchers in the field. As such, they sought to invest their collective resources in the growth of veterinary pharmacology through research grants and training programs.” Jane Owens, President, VPRF.

The first call for proposals went out in November 2009. Since then, the partnership has awarded over $70,754 to five ACVIM Board-certified researchers along with their research team members. The first VPRF grant was awarded in June 2010 to Drs. Kenneth Simpson, Melanie Craven, and Belgin Dogan from Cornell University for the development of a novel amikacin delivery method for treatment of E. coli associated with Granulomatous Colitis of Boxer dogs.

In 2011, the second grant was awarded to Drs. Butch KuKanich and Kate KuKanich from Kansas State University for a study to determine the effect of CYP inhibition on tramadol disposition and pharmacological effects in dogs. In 2012, Drs. Chen Gilor and Christopher Adin of the Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department at the Ohio State University received funding for evaluating Exenatide extended release in cats. Grant monies were also awarded to Drs. Jennifer Myers, Janice Bright, Christopher Orton, Daniel Gustafson and Christine Swardson Olver from the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University for evaluation of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of Apibaxin in cats. The 2013 VPRF funds were awarded to Dr. Dawn Boothe, and resident Jacqueline Gimmler of Auburn University for establishing terbinafine doses for treatment of canine Malassezia infection.

The 2014 call for VPRF grants encourages investigators to submit proposals that focus on research to evaluate the safety, effectiveness and duration of effect of therapies for veterinary species, explore new drug therapies for animals, develop and validate methods of evaluating effects of drugs in animal diseases or conditions, or ensure that a safe food supply is not compromised by drug therapy. As this grant is a partnership between veterinary internists and VPRF, collaborations between pharmacologists and Diplomates of ACVIM are strongly encouraged.

About Veterinary Pharmacology Research FoundationThe Veterinary Pharmacology Research Foundation provides grant funding to support research into new and currently approved medications for combating diseases of companion and food animals, projects that ensure the safety of food products from treated livestock, and training programs for veterinary pharmacologists. These areas have been unmet needs in veterinary medicine for over 30 years.

About the ACVIM FoundationThe American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to pioneering the healthcare of animals through the work of specialists in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM): small and large animal internists, cardiologists, neurologists, and oncologists. By supporting the work of these groundbreaking scientists, by raising awareness of specialty medicine, and by mobilizing the animal-loving public, we aim to revolutionize current treatments and spark the discovery of future cures. The ACVIM Foundation recognizes the need for advanced care, research dollars, awareness, and the need to support the Resident-in-training and the future scientist. Learn more at www.ACVIMFoundation.org.